Sen. Allen's Journey Of Racial Conciliation (apologizing for slavery)

Washington Post ^ | 5/1/6 | Rosalind S. Helderman

[Crackingham]

On a weekend pilgrimage to this town that was once the center of massive resistance to desegregation, Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) said he believes a congressional resolution expressing remorse for slavery would be a "powerful, worthy" idea.

Allen, who is running for reelection while considering a 2008 presidential bid, was in Farmville over the weekend as part of a racial reconciliation trip organized by the bipartisan Faith and Politics Institute. Also participating in the pilgrimage was Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a leader in the civil rights movement. Allen pledged to work with Lewis to build support among colleagues and the public for the resolution.

.......

Allen's comments were notable because some black leaders and political opponents have long accused him of racial insensitivities. Before he ran for governor in 1993, he kept a Confederate flag in a cabin near his Charlottesville home, part of a collection of flags, he has said. He once displayed a noose in his law office, which he said was part of a homage to the West. And he stirred controversy as governor by issuing a proclamation noting the South's celebration of Confederate History Month in April, without mentioning slavery.

Allen said he has gotten a lesson in the importance of symbols, including the Confederate flag. "I have learned over time what that flag means," he said. "To me, it didn't mean what it means to some people. . . . I looked at it more as anti-establishment, renegade, rebelliousness. But I have learned . . . when you look at how that flag has been appropriated by hate groups. I don't ever want to hurt people or in any way make them feel bad about one thing or another."

[markedman]

I wonder then if there we should expect to receive a big "Thank You" resolution to the descendants of all of the soldiers killed during the Civil War. Maybe even some kind of reparation for the soldiers surviving generations. Better yet, how about giving their great, great, great, grandchildren special preference for getting into college and being promoted on the job?

Nah!

That would be discrimination, and that's supposed to be a bad thing.

[jla]

Slavery was wrong. The demand for Reparations is wrong.

Agreed, on both points.

Trying to seek some resolution in between is not. A apology costs us nothing.

Vehemently disagree.
I would ask, why is Allen doing this now? If he thinks it to be such a noble and warranted action why didn't he propose it last year? Five years ago? Or when he first became a U.S. senator? Or when he was the governor of Virginia, the state that had the preponderance of slaves?
Don't you find it even the least suspicious that he proposes this immediately after the silly report of his wearing a Rebel pin as a high schooler?
He is not going to get the black vote any way, and I'll tell you another thing, most blacks couldn't care less if the Confederate flag is displayed or not.
Senator Allen is too good of a representative, and a man, to be cowering like this.

Flame away.

Sorry Mr. Stormhands, for that to occur you would first have to gain my disrespect. A very unlikely likelihood.

[Corin Stormhands]

If he thinks it to be such a noble and warranted action why didn't he propose it last year?

Last year he co-sponsored the Senate resolution apologizing for lynching (that's a ~slight~ paraphrase).

Whatever the timing, whatever the reasoning, I'm ~fairly certain~ this is not just in response to the hit piece.

[Phosgood]

Me: "Poor judgment on the part of the hacks that advise him like the time he teamed up publicly with MZ Brady on the "Anti Assault" weapons bill.
You:I suppose you have a source for that misstatement? "

I may have misstated, it wasn't Mz Brady, it was Mz Feinstein...
In 2000, George Allen publicly proclaimed his intention to RENEW the Clinton-Feinstein Semi-Auto Gun Ban.
Gun Owners in Virginia swung into action to make George Allen feel the heat so he'd see the light . . . and he DID!
George Allen took a second look and did the RIGHT THING by voting AGAINST
These groups are aware of Senator Allen's mottled record on gun rights, but hope he will continue to move in the right direction by doing more as he aspires to more.
But here at a glance are other gun control measures George Allen has supported either now or in the past...
GUN CONTROL MEASURES GEORGE ALLEN'S RECORD
Renewing the 1994 Gun Ban - YES then NO*
One-Gun-A-Month Rationing Scheme - YES*
Ending Private Gun Sales at Gun Shows - YES*
Lock Up Self-Defense Guns or Face Criminal Penalties - YES*
Tracking Handgun Buyers in a Centralized Database - YES*
(Sources: *Richmond Times Dispatch, September 13, 2000, &2000 U.S. Senate Candidate Survey, "Voted for SB 424 in 1990 and SB 685 in 1991 as a VA Delegate, * 1993 Allen for Governor Campaign Policy Statement)
"I have decided…to vote against extension of the 'Assault Weapons Ban.'

-- Statement issued by Senator George Allen; March 1, 2004
"I have taken a position that I would not repeal the existing ban. Therefore logically I would vote to continue the existing law."
-- Senatorial candidate George Allen, as quoted in the September 15, 2000 edition of the Richmond Times Dispatch.

We don't need to pick at each other but focus on keeping Sen Allen from morphing into a RHINO like our (VA) other Senator. We brought him to the dance!

[Phosgood]

Me: "Poor judgment on the part of the hacks that advise him like the time he teamed up publicly with MZ Brady on the "Anti Assault" weapons bill.
You:I suppose you have a source for that misstatement? "

I may have misstated, it wasn't Mz Brady, it was Mz Feinstein...
In 2000, George Allen publicly proclaimed his intention to RENEW the Clinton-Feinstein Semi-Auto Gun Ban.
Gun Owners in Virginia swung into action to make George Allen feel the heat so he'd see the light . . . and he DID!
George Allen took a second look and did the RIGHT THING by voting AGAINST
These groups are aware of Senator Allen's mottled record on gun rights, but hope he will continue to move in the right direction by doing more as he aspires to more.
But here at a glance are other gun control measures George Allen has supported either now or in the past...
GUN CONTROL MEASURES GEORGE ALLEN'S RECORD
Renewing the 1994 Gun Ban - YES then NO*
One-Gun-A-Month Rationing Scheme - YES*
Ending Private Gun Sales at Gun Shows - YES*
Lock Up Self-Defense Guns or Face Criminal Penalties - YES*
Tracking Handgun Buyers in a Centralized Database - YES*
(Sources: *Richmond Times Dispatch, September 13, 2000, &2000 U.S. Senate Candidate Survey, "Voted for SB 424 in 1990 and SB 685 in 1991 as a VA Delegate, * 1993 Allen for Governor Campaign Policy Statement)
"I have decided…to vote against extension of the 'Assault Weapons Ban.'

-- Statement issued by Senator George Allen; March 1, 2004
"I have taken a position that I would not repeal the existing ban. Therefore logically I would vote to continue the existing law."
-- Senatorial candidate George Allen, as quoted in the September 15, 2000 edition of the Richmond Times Dispatch.

We don't need to pick at each other but focus on keeping Sen Allen from morphing into a RHINO like our (VA) other Senator. We brought him to the dance!

[stockstrader]

George Allen just went down a few points in my eyes.

His pandering will NOT get him one additional black or liberal vote. He will only LOSE support from conservatives who are sick and tired of this guilt crap from something that happened generations before ANY of us living now--not to mention that what they were doing what was legal at the time.

This perpetual guilt crap has got to stop. GET OVER IT ALREADY,,, GEEEZ!

What's next? A formal apology to all women because they could not vote 200 years ago? This liberal, self-flaggelation, pandering and never-ending guilt trip for something that NO ONE ALIVE ever did,,,MUST STOP. It just never ends.

How about this for an alternative? Congress passes an APOLOGY resolution--in exchange for BANNING all "Reverse Discrimation" (aka affirmative action)? Sounds fair to me.

[DennisR]

It does not matter how many times anyone apologizes - those on the left will always think thew wittow feewings awe huwt (that is my best Elmer Fudd impression : ).

[OKIEDOC]

I heard and was shocked, Allen telling Fox News that he wanted more immigration not less.

If he continues to move to the left I will really start to rethink my support.